Ameren Marks Arbor Day With New Tips To Help Customers Plant Energy-Saving Trees Safely

This Arbor Day, Ameren is encouraging customers to plant trees with purpose by choosing locations that support energy savings and help avoid future issues. The company explains that trees add natural beauty, shade and comfort to any home, but when planted thoughtfully, they can also support the reliability of the energy grid. Josh Mahon, manager of vegetation management at Ameren Transmission, noted that customers rely on safe and dependable power.

By sharing guidance on proper tree placement, Ameren hopes to work together with communities to prevent outages caused by tree-related damage, which is especially common during storms and severe weather. The company recommends considering how large a tree will become at maturity to avoid interference with utility lines, lifted walkways or blocked solar panels. Customers can learn more about responsible planting practices at Ameren.com/Planting.

For households with mature trees already growing too close to electrical infrastructure, Ameren provides year-round tree trimming and vegetation management to help keep limbs safely clear of equipment. These efforts play an important role in maintaining both reliability and safety across the energy system.

Most of the trimmed branches and vegetation are recycled—turned into mulch or sent to local zoos and animal-care facilities for use as food and natural enrichment. In 2025, Ameren recycled and donated 18 million pounds of wood material, nearly double the amount of steel used to build the iconic Gateway Arch.

Ameren also emphasises that smart tree planting can help customers lower energy bills. Deciduous trees planted strategically can provide shade during the hottest months and ease the need for air conditioning. Evergreens, when planted as windbreaks, can reduce the force of cold winter winds and help decrease heating costs.

However, placing large evergreens too close to the south side of a home can block valuable winter sunlight and unintentionally increase heating needs. Careful planning ensures trees contribute positively to home comfort and energy efficiency throughout the year.

The company’s commitment to responsible tree management has earned national recognition. The Arbor Day Foundation named Ameren a 2026 Tree Line USA recipient, an honour given to utilities that successfully balance safe, dependable electricity with the preservation of urban tree canopies.

Michelle Saulnier, the Foundation’s vice president of programs, acknowledged that strong tree canopies strengthen communities and support healthier neighbourhoods. She praised Ameren for demonstrating that reliable electricity and thriving urban forests can go hand in hand, highlighting the company as a positive example in a national network of forward-thinking service providers.